Drag link



Aug. 11, 1925.

H. E. GARMAN DRAG LINK Filed Dec. 14, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2Sheets-Sheet 2 H. B. GARMAN DRAG LINK Filed Dec. l4, 1921 Aug. 1l,`1925.

Patented tug. 11, 1925.

HARRY B. GARMAN, OF DETROT, IVICI-IIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE STEEL PRGDUCTSCOT/IPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATON OF O'HIO.

DRAG LINK.

Application filed December 14, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Hanni B. GARMAN, a citizen of the United States,resi t of Detroit, county of TvVa-yne, and State of Michigan, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Drag Links, of which thefollowing is a. specification, the principle of the invention beingherein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthat principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

This invention relates to drag links for use as a part of the steeringmechanism of automobiles and more particularly the connection of theenlarged end sockets to the central body portion of the link.

1t is the object of this invention to pron vide a link which can becheaply constructed, is neat in appearance and is possessed of thenecessary rigidity and strength. More speci ically, it is the object ofthis invention to provide a joint between Vthe end sockets and thecentral body portion of the link which permits quick assembly andinterlocking of the parts in forming a permanent connection betweenthem, and by means of which the parts are rigidly held against relativemovement either longitudinally or circumferentia-ily.

rThe annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however,constituting but a few of the various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be employed.

1n said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken plan view showing one end of the link in section.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through an end socket beforeassembling.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of an end of the centralportion of the link before assembling.

Fig. L1 is a section on line N,F-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a broken plan view partly in section showing a link with asolid body portion.

Fig. 6 is a broken plan view of the solid body portion before showingone end thereof in section.

Fig. 7 is a section on line VHVH of Fig. 5.

Serial No. 522,376.

Fig. 8 is a broken plan view of a link havingl a slightly modified formof joint, one end being` shown in section.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sec-ion through the end socket member of Fig. 8before assembling.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section through the central body member ofFig. 8 before assembling.

in the modification shown. in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the drag linkconsists of a central tubular body portion 1, and enlarged tubular endsocket members 2. As shown in Fig. 2 the socket members 2 have arestricted neck portion 3 at one end, the internal ldia-meter of whichis such as to fit snugly upon the central tubular body member 2. Asshown in Fig. 3 the central body portion 1 is first formed with externalribs or shoulders d spaced somewhat from the ends thereof. In assemblingthe link-the neck portion 3 of a socket member 2 is slipped on the endof the body member 1 with the end thereof in engagement with theshoulder 4i. The outer end 5 of the tubular body member is then upset orexpanded within the enlarged portion of the socket member 2 to fitagainst the shoulder 6 formed by the reduced neck portion 3.lindentations 7 are then formed in the neck portion 3 of the socketmember and the tubular body member 1 effectually locking the members 1and 2 against relative circumferential movement.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 'i' the cent-ral bodyportion 8 of the link is a solid bar. rFhe end socket members 9 areexactly the same as in Fig. 1. The neck portion 10 fits snugly upon theend of the body member 8 with its outer end in engagement with theshoulder 11 on the body inember, the outer end 12 of the body member isupset within the. socket member 9 against the shoulder 13 at the innerend of the neck portieri, and the neck portion 10 has indentations 14-projeeting into the solid body member 8.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 the tubular body member15 has peripheral grooves 16 formed therein adjacent the ends thereof.An end socket member 17 has a reduced neck portion 18 adapted to fitsnugly on the body member 15. rThe neck portion 18 is slipped on the endof the body member 15 and peripheral grooves 19 are formed therein, theinternal ribs formed by the grooves 19 filling the grooves 16 of thebody member. The inner end 2O of the body member 15 is then expanded orupset inside the socket member 17 against the shoulders Q1 at the innerend of the neck portion 1S.

hat l: claim is:

1. A drag` link comprising` a tubular body member; and a tubular endsocket member, said socket member having a restricted tubular endportion fitting;` over said body member, the end of said body memberbeing expanded to iit within the internal shoulder at the inner end ofsaid restricted portion or' the socket member, said restricted portionof the socket member and the body member having additional interengagingshoulders.

2. A drag link comprising a body member, and a tubular end socketmember, said socket member having` a restricted tubular end portionfitting over said body member, said body member having an upset shoulderadapted to engage the outer end of said restricted portion of the socketmember, the inner end of said body member being upset Within the tubularmember to iit against the shoulder at the inner end of said restrictedportion of the socket member, the restricted portion of said socketmember having' an indentation projecting into said body member.

Signed this 9th day of November, 1921.

HARRY B. GARA/IAN.

